Football club launches kit recycling scheme

A football club is inviting young players to donate outgrown or unwanted kits to help struggling families.

York City Football Club Foundation has launched its Changing Room project, which will see blue donation bins installed at schools and other sports clubs.

The foundation is seeking items including T-shirts, tracksuits and hoodies, football boots, trainers and shin pads.

Its inclusion officer Steph Aksel said she hoped the scheme would be an "effective way to encourage people into physical activity as well as recognising the importance of recycling preloved items".

She said: “With the cost-of-living crisis, we are finding more and more families are struggling financially to be able to afford to take part in sport, and the first barrier to access sport can be not having the right clothing or equipment.

“Alternatively, we have seen first-hand young people turn up to community-based activities ill-prepared which presents risks to them taking part.

“The Changing Room project will not only address that but is aimed at reducing the environmental impact that sports equipment production has on the planet."

After the items are donated, staff and volunteers at the foundation will clean and sort the items into types and sizes until they are ready to be passed on.

The project was set up after the foundation received funding from the National League Trust.

Supporters can donate items in one of the foundation’s blue bins at York Community Stadium.

There will also be collections on matchdays, with volunteers from the foundation located around the mini pitches at the front of the stadium.

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